Oil well pump



Feb. 8, 1944.

6.. F. oowws OIL WELL PUMPK Filed Ma 26, 1941 INVENTOR BY v ATO NE GEORGE F. DOWNS I "nexed drawing, which my invention partly in conduit It. The closure is also 2,3tlih93 GEL WELL HIM? George 2?. Downs, Bartlesyiile, Ghia assignor to Phillips Petroleum Eompany,

Beiaware Application May 26, 1M1, Serial No. 3%,295

1 @lairn.

This invention relates to pumping and more particularly to fluid-operated pumping appara us.

The present practice of pumping fluid from well bores commonly employs a reciprocating pump which is actuated by a string of sucker rods which are attached to and reciprocated by a pumping unit or rig front at the surface of, the ground. During recent years, developments in rodless types of pumping apparatus have been developed in the industry and used with great success. Among the rodless types of pumping apparatus are fluid-operated or hydraulic pumps, which utilize a pressure fluid to actuate the down-hole, pump.

It is quite common with hydraulic pumps to exhaust the pressure fluid" into the fiow tubing where it mixes with the hydrocarbon fluid which is being produced from a well bore. This procedure is undesirable, as the hydrocarbon fluid may not always be suitable for use as a pressure fluid. Further, a large supply of pressure fluid must be available to actuate the hydraulic pump. This usually results in the operation of the pumping apparatus in conjunction with the central storage tank battery which is commonly em ployed for the storage of hydrocarbon oils.

By the practice of my invention, I am able to.

pump hydrocarbon fluids using a pressure fluid without mixing the "pressure fluid with the hydrocarbon fluid. Thus, only a relatively small supply of pressure fluid" is necessary for the continuous operation of my device, and the storage of the hydrocarbon fluid produced maybe located independently of my apparatus.

My invention has for its primary object the provision of a fluid-operated pumping apparatus. Another object of my invention is to provide a fluid-operated pumping apparatus in which the fluid used to actuate the pump does not mix with the fluid lifted by my pumping apparatus.

These and additional objects and advantages will be apparent to persons skilled in the art by reference to the following description and 'anis an elevation view of cross section.

Referring to the drawing, I have denoted a well bore by reference'numeral It, whichextends downwardly from the surface of the ground H to a hydrocarbon oil-bearing formation ii. A string of oil well casing I; which is contained within the well bore is provided at the top with a closure it which communicates with an oil disposal apparatus, such as a tank l5, through a adapted to re vapor release valve 3 a corporation of ceive and support a string of pressure fluid tubing ll, which extends downwardly within casing i8. The lower end of the tubing is threadedly connected to a pump chamber is, which contains a suitable spring l9 intermediate a valve member 2a and a movable partition, such as a piston 2!. It will be noted that the upper limit of travel of the piston is determined by a stop. ring 22. The piston and the interior wall of the pump chamber form an adequate fluid seal tov prevent leakageof fluid past thepiston as the piston reciprocates in the pump chamber. Valve member 2a is provided with a valve chamber 2s and with an inlet valve 24 which controls the flow of fluid through a port 25. Port 25 establishes communication between a lowerinlet conduit 26 and valve chamber 23. The valve member is also provided with a discharge valve 21 which controls the flow of fluid through a second port 28. Port 28 establishes communication between the valve chamber and an annular space 29, which is formed in the casing vention. The valve chamber also communicates with the pump chamber by way of a passage at.

The upper end of the tubing connects with a "pressure fluid" conduit 32, which in turn connects with the discharge end of a positive displacement pump cylinder 3!. A piston '36 is reciprocated within the cylinder by a, piston rod 35 which is connected in a conventional manner to a prime mover (not shown). A conventional is preferably provided at the highest point of elevation of the pressure fluid" conduits, such as at the top of tubing Hi. This valve allows the automatic removal of entrained vapors from the "pressure fluid. It will be noted that a. "pressure fluid" supply conduit 31 connects with conduit 32 and with a source of fluid (not shown). Conduit 37 is provided with an automatic check valve 38 which may be adjusted to maintain an adequate volume of "pressure. fluid in conduit 32.

In operation, my device is assembled, as illustrated in the drawing. Let us assume that piston 2| is held at the top of pump chamber It by spring l9; that the pump chamber is filled with fluid from formation I 2; that piston is in a 5s srefllledwithomfliud." Aspiston I4 fluid in the pump chamber is urged through passage 3|, valve chamber 23, and port 22, and is dis- The downward fluid in the charged into annular space movement of piston 2! causes the valve chamber to close valve 24 and to open valve 21. It is to be noted that piston #2! is at its lower limit of travel when piston Si in cylinder 18 is at the end of its forward stroke. As piston 3i recedes during its returnstroke, spring 19 urges piston 2| upwardly in chamber it. The upward movement of piston 21 displaces pres-= sure fluid" from the chamber and causes the fluid to fill the discharge end of cylinder 33. At the same time, the pressure of the formation fluid causes the formation fluid to open valve 28 which allows the formation fluid to flow through port 25 into valve chamber 23 and into pump chamber is. The pressure of the column of fluid in annular space 29 maintains valve 21 in a closed position during the upstroke of piston 2i. When piston 34 reaches the end of its return stroke, the above cycle is repeated. During the pumping operation, the hydrocarbon fluid flows through annular space 29 to the surface of the ground,

where the fluid is conveyed from the annular I space to tank I5 by conduit l8.

From the Ioregoing, it is believed that the construction, operation and advantages of my instant invention will be readily comprehended by per sons skilled in the art. It is to be clearly understood, however, that various changes in the apparatus shown and described may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claim.

I claim:

In a fluid actuated pumping system for produclng oil from an underground reservoir through a well here communicating therewith, the cornbination comprising a casing in the well here, a conduit in the casing and spaced therefrom to form an annular passage therewith, a packer removably anchored in the annular passage and sealing the spacing between the conduit and the casing, a pump housing in the conduit, a valve casing in the conduit between the pump housin and the packer, a plunger reciprocable in the housing, resilient means in the housing between the plunger and the valve casing, means for transmitting a fluid under pressure above the plunger to actuate the same downwardly against the action oi the last mentioned means, a fluid actuated check valve in the valve casing for admitting well fluid irom pump housing below the plunger on movement or said plunger in one direction and a second fluid actuated check valve in the valve casing for discharging well fluid into the annular passage above the packer on niovement of the plunger in the opposite direction.

- GEORGE F. DOWNS.

below the packer into the 

